Beating the drum with Indians.com reporter Jordan Bastian

Sandy Alomar interested in White Sox job “if anyone calls”

DETROIT — Sandy Alomar Jr. knows his name has come up in early speculation about the managerial situation facing the White Sox, but the Indians first base coach has yet to receive a phone call from anyone in Chicago’s front office.

If Alomar’s phone does ring, he is willing to listen.

“I’m definitely interested, if anyone calls,” Alomar said on Tuesday afternoon at Comerica Park. “But, I don’t want to elaborate on stuff like that, though. That’s it. I have nothing else to say.”

On Monday, the White Sox released Ozzie Guillen from his contract as manager of the ballclub and it is expected that he will soon succeed Jack McKeon as manager of the Marlins. That leaves Chicago in the market for a new skipper and Alomar is considered an early front-runner for the job.

Alomar, 44, resides in Chicago and spent parts of five seasons with the White Sox from 2001-06. The former All-Star catcher has never managed at any level, but he is widely respected around baseball for his baseball knowledge and personality.

Last winter, Alomar was on a short-list for the managerial opening in Toronto and Cleveland gave him permission to go through the interview process. After interviewing Alomar multiple times, the Blue Jays eventually hired John Farrell as their new manager.

Alomar said the situation with Toronto helped him a lot.

“Tremendously,” he said. “[I learned] how interviews go about, the process of what they do. [They asked about] what kind of preparation you have and what kind of type of guy you are and how you would treat people and players. That’s the bottom line. You learn so many things.

“How much you know the league and who you’re going to compete against, and what you would do differently, that’s the main thing they asked, but that’s about all I’m going to give you.”

Alomar is in his second season as Cleveland’s first-base coach under manager Manny Acta. Prior to serving as a coach for the Indians — a team he played for from 1990-2000 — Alomar worked as a catching instructor for the New York Mets for two seasons. He played 20 years in the Majors with seven organizations.

Alomar emphasized that he is content in his current role with Cleveland.

“I’m happy with the Indians,” he said. “I don’t want to beat the Indians with the White Sox. I don’t want to right now. I’m with the Indians. … I really don’t know what’s going to happen here. All I know is that I’m here and hopefully we finish second.

“Then, when I go home and relax with my family, if somebody calls me, then we’ll talk. If jobs look for me, that’s fine. I don’t look for jobs.”

Meta

The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.